Embracing Foster Care: A Call to Love and Action
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the pressing issue of foster care in Georgia, where over 12,000 children are in need of loving homes. We began by meeting Kelsey, one of the many children seeking a forever family, and were reminded of the vast number of kids who need our love and support. The challenge is not just about becoming foster parents but finding ways to contribute to the lives of these children and their families. Whether through respite care, volunteering, or simply offering a meal, there are numerous ways to make a meaningful impact.
Reflecting on my own experience with the 29029 event, I shared how the journey of climbing a mountain became a metaphor for the foster care journey. Just as I needed support to complete my climb, these children and families need our support to navigate their challenges. The story of the Good Samaritan from Luke 10:25-37 served as a powerful reminder of our call to love our neighbors, not just those who are easy to love, but everyone around us, including those who may have hurt others.
We discussed various ways to get involved, such as becoming a respite parent, volunteering with organizations like Atlanta Angels and Georgia Kids Belong, or supporting foster families through simple acts of kindness. The Atlanta Angels' Love Box and Dare to Dream programs offer opportunities to provide support and mentorship to foster families and youth. Meanwhile, Georgia Kids Belong's I Belong Project helps create videos to connect children with potential adoptive families.
Ultimately, the call is to love our neighbors as ourselves, to step into the lives of these children and families, and to be the hands and feet of Christ in a world that desperately needs His love. Whether through fostering, mentoring, or simply offering a helping hand, we can all play a part in transforming the lives of these children and their families.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Power of Community Support: Just as climbing a mountain is easier with support, foster children and families need our collective help. We are called to be the hands and feet of Christ, offering love and support to those in need. [54:58]
2. Loving Beyond Convenience: The story of the Good Samaritan teaches us to love our neighbors, even when it's inconvenient or challenging. This love extends to foster children, their biological families, and everyone in our community. [01:03:48]
3. Diverse Ways to Serve: There are many ways to support foster care beyond becoming a foster parent. From respite care to volunteering with organizations, each act of kindness contributes to the well-being of these children and families. [01:06:05]
4. Mentorship and Connection: Programs like Atlanta Angels' Dare to Dream offer mentorship opportunities, allowing us to build meaningful relationships with foster youth and guide them through life's challenges. [01:08:23]
5. The Call to Action: We are encouraged to take action, whether through fostering, volunteering, or simply offering a meal. Each small step can make a significant difference in the lives of foster children and their families. [01:11:04]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [52:01] - Introduction to Foster Care in Georgia
- [53:21] - Personal Experience in Foster Care System
- [54:58] - The 29029 Mountain Climb Metaphor
- [56:58] - The Challenge of Climbing Alone
- [58:08] - The Power of Encouragement
- [01:03:48] - The Good Samaritan Parable
- [01:05:03] - Loving All Neighbors
- [01:06:05] - Ways to Support Foster Care
- [01:08:23] - Atlanta Angels Programs
- [01:11:04] - Georgia Kids Belong Initiatives
- [01:13:16] - Introduction to Goshen Valley Foundation
- [01:24:26] - Communion and Benediction
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Luke 10:25-37 (The Parable of the Good Samaritan)
Observation Questions:
1. How does the story of the Good Samaritan illustrate the concept of loving beyond convenience? [01:03:48]
2. What are some specific ways mentioned in the sermon that individuals can support foster children and families without becoming foster parents? [01:06:05]
3. How did the speaker's experience with the 29029 event serve as a metaphor for the foster care journey? [54:58]
Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the parable of the Good Samaritan challenge our understanding of who our neighbor is? [01:03:48]
2. How can the metaphor of climbing a mountain be applied to the challenges faced by foster children and families? [54:58]
3. What does it mean to be the "hands and feet of Christ" in the context of supporting foster care? [52:01]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you had the opportunity to help someone in need but chose not to. What held you back, and how might the story of the Good Samaritan inspire you to act differently in the future? [01:03:48]
2. Consider the various ways to support foster care mentioned in the sermon. Which one resonates with you the most, and how can you take a step towards involvement this week? [01:06:05]
3. The speaker shared a personal story about needing support during a challenging climb. Who in your life might need your support right now, and how can you offer it? [54:58]
4. How can you practice loving your neighbor, especially those who are difficult to love, in your daily interactions? [01:05:03]
5. Identify a local organization that supports foster care. What is one practical way you can contribute to their mission this month? [01:08:23]
6. Think about the concept of "loving beyond convenience." What is one area in your life where you can apply this principle more intentionally? [01:03:48]
7. How can you encourage others in your community to get involved in supporting foster care, and what role can you play in facilitating that involvement? [01:11:04]
Devotional
I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the instructions given. Here it is:
Day 1: The Strength of Community in Foster Care
In the journey of foster care, the power of community support is indispensable. Just as climbing a mountain is made easier with the help of others, foster children and families require our collective assistance to navigate their challenges. This support can manifest in various forms, from offering respite care to volunteering with organizations dedicated to foster care. By being the hands and feet of Christ, we can extend love and support to those in need, embodying the essence of community and compassion. [54:58]
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2 ESV)
Reflection: Who in your community is currently in need of support, and how can you practically offer your help this week?
Day 2: Loving When It's Hard
The story of the Good Samaritan challenges us to love our neighbors, even when it is inconvenient or difficult. This call to love extends beyond those who are easy to love, reaching out to foster children, their biological families, and everyone in our community. It is a reminder that true love is sacrificial and often requires us to step out of our comfort zones to serve others selflessly. [01:03:48]
"But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you." (Luke 6:27 ESV)
Reflection: Identify a person or group you find difficult to love. What is one step you can take today to show them kindness?
Day 3: Serving Beyond Traditional Roles
Supporting foster care does not solely mean becoming a foster parent. There are diverse ways to serve, such as providing respite care, volunteering with organizations, or offering simple acts of kindness. Each contribution, no matter how small, plays a vital role in enhancing the well-being of foster children and their families. This diversity in service allows everyone to participate in meaningful ways, according to their abilities and resources. [01:06:05]
"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." (1 Peter 4:10 ESV)
Reflection: What unique gifts or resources do you have that could be used to support foster care in your community?
Day 4: Mentorship and Building Connections
Programs like Atlanta Angels' Dare to Dream offer opportunities for mentorship, allowing individuals to build meaningful relationships with foster youth. These connections provide guidance and support, helping foster children navigate life's challenges. By investing time and effort into these relationships, mentors can make a significant impact on the lives of foster youth, offering them hope and direction. [01:08:23]
"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV)
Reflection: Consider someone in your life who could benefit from mentorship. How can you begin to build a supportive relationship with them?
Day 5: Taking Action in Love
The call to action is clear: whether through fostering, volunteering, or simply offering a meal, each small step can make a significant difference in the lives of foster children and their families. This call to love our neighbors as ourselves is a powerful reminder of our responsibility to be active participants in transforming the world around us. By taking action, we embody the love of Christ and bring hope to those who need it most. [01:11:04]
"Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth." (1 John 3:18 ESV)
Reflection: What is one tangible action you can take this week to demonstrate love to someone in need?
Quotes
"If we have not met yet. My name is Sarah Roberts and I am the youth minister here at Hickory flats and you guys just got to meet my friend Kelsey, who is one of the over 300 kiddos. Well, it gets you every time. I've watched that video so many times. Cause I was like, you're not going to cry on Sunday. Yes you are." [00:50:40] (21 seconds)
"I'm going but she is one of the over 300 kiddos here in the state of Georgia who is currently looking for a forever foster home. And sometimes when we hear the number 300, we're like, that's so small. It could be so much bigger. So to help put that in context for you, if you were here on Christmas Eve, or if you've ever seen this entire place completely packed out, all of the pews filled, that would be approximately the amount of kids that are currently available for adoption here in the state of Georgia." [00:51:00] (33 seconds)
"That's a lot of humans that are just looking for a forever home. And Kelsey, much like a lot of kids in foster care, she just wants someone who will love her. She just wants someone to walk through life with her." [00:51:34] (17 seconds)
"As of December, the number was 11 ,840, so here we are a month later. Numbers could change one way or another, but to help you put that in perspective, how many of you guys have been to the Fox Theater? A lot of us. Okay, cool. So we all know how large it is, how many seats there are. You could completely fill all of the seats, all of the space in the Fox Theater two and a half times with all of the kids who are in care." [00:52:01] (35 seconds)
"There's a lot outside of just being a foster parent that you can do, and we're going to talk about it to give you guys some ways that you can get plugged in." [00:52:58] (9 seconds)
"And I would like to remind us all today what I frequently tell to our youth, that we live in a very cruel world, but we do not serve a cruel God. He is a very good God and a very kind God, and he provides. He provides that support. He provides those people. He gave us you to go and do for those who are suffering and those who are struggling. We need you. We need all of us to do something." [00:54:03] (32 seconds)
"Please don't shut down because I'm asking you to do something today. It's going to be okay. We have a lot of options. Just hear me out because there's a lot that you can do." [00:54:34] (13 seconds)
"And the organization, they go out and they rent out like these private ski areas, and they say, this mountain here, you climb it X amount of times, and it's the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest, which like sounds super cool to be able to say that you've done it. And I thought I could do it. It was awesome. Awful." [00:54:58] (22 seconds)
"But I got to go. And we got to hike a mountain in Utah. And our particular mountain that we were hiking, it would take 13 climbs up the mountain to be the equivalent of hiking Mount Everest. So the concept is that you go up and then you take a gondola down and you turn right back around and you do it again. Which again, like that sounds so easy. And Sarah was like, yeah, what's 13 hikes?" [00:55:20] (26 seconds)
"Because they love us, though, they gave us the equivalent hikes for like the seven tallest mountains in the world. So to reach our first goal, all I had to do was hike the mountain four times. And I was like, I could do four. I could do all 13." [00:55:46] (16 seconds)
"And so we get to the mountain, and I was feeling very confident and very cocky and like prepared to do it. Mind you, I trained 0%." [00:56:01] (10 seconds)
"All of the people that went with me, they had been like doing these training hikes, and they have like these workout plans, and these eating plans. And I was like, why? Because you actually need it. Surprise. So we get there. And I'm thinking, oh, we rent out a resort. It's going to be so nice. We get to stay in the hotels that's there. And then we'll hike. No, they put us in tents. We slept outside in the cold on cots. And then we had to hike. But we did it. We did it." [00:56:32] (32 seconds)
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